Micro guides are a bad choice for fly rods but would seem to be a fine choice for rods using revolving spool reels, no matter what line is used. Are micro guides preferred for all types of spinning rods regardless of the type of line being used or the fishing conditions and fish being pursued?

Micro guides, depending on the actual size you're referring to, are not always a fine choice for revolving spool reels. Try them on a heavy power surf casting outfit and see what your results are. Same with spinning rods - for running guides they are generally fine until you get up to the very heavy outfits that may require the passing of larger lines and connections. So as always we're back to using the right guides for the particular type fishing, reel, line and situation involved.

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As Mr. Kirkman has said many times in the past.

Use the guide or guides that work for the particular rod you are building for the particular fish that you are targeting.

It may mean very larger, large, medium, small, extra small or micro guides.

If you need to pass knots leaders or snaps through the guides, the guides need to be sized accordingly.

Many folks who have built a bunch of rods with micro guides have gone to an overall larger guide, simply for the convenience of the fisherman when dealing with a variety of conditions.

One negative affect voiced by many folks especially older fishing folks who may not have the best vision or the steadiest hands, prefer not to use a rods wrapper with micro guides simply because it is too tough to see the line to go through the small guides and the hassle of dealing with knots and potential leaders on their lines. For younger folks with steady hands and better vision, this is a non problem.

There are a lot of rod builders who have built with micro guides and simply don't want to deal with the size of the micro guides and the issues that their size entails. Rather, they have settled on a guide train that will be no smaller than a size 5 and are very happy with the use of such guide trains.

Build for the need, as well as the person using the rod and you will have a happy client.

Take care

As Mr. Kirkman has said many times in the past.

Use the guide or guides that work for the particular rod you are building for the particular fish that you are targeting.

It may mean very larger, large, medium, small, extra small or micro guides.

If you need to pass knots leaders or snaps through the guides, the guides need to be sized accordingly.

Many folks who have built a bunch of rods with micro guides have gone to an overall larger guide, simply for the convenience of the fisherman when dealing with a variety of conditions.

One negative affect voiced by many folks especially older fishing folks who may not have the best vision or the steadiest hands, prefer not to use a rods wrapper with micro guides simply because it is too tough to see the line to go through the small guides and the hassle of dealing with knots and potential leaders on their lines. For younger folks with steady hands and better vision, this is a non problem.

There are a lot of rod builders who have built with micro guides and simply don't want to deal with the size of the micro guides and the issues that their size entails. Rather, they have settled on a guide train that will be no smaller than a size 5 and are very happy with the use of such guide trains.

Build for the need, as well as the person using the rod and you will have a happy client.

Take care

Depending on the size some will ice up more than larger guides.

I pretty much only build bass rods.

But have built one fry rod and used Micro guides 2.5 mm runners on it because I didn't know better. Took it by Rod Maker Mag. corporate offices so Mr. Kirkman could teach me how to cast a fly rod,

It works pretty good and Mr Kirkman did not indicate that he was having any trouble with it.
(but then he might have just been sparing my feelings)

Also brought to show in one of the ICRB Expo seminars was ask to teach several years ago. and non the attendees who came up to play with it indicated that the Micro's were a problem.

Not being a fly fisherman I have no clue what guide performs best on fly rods

So my question is why are "Micro guides are a bad choice for fly rods"?

Sounds like somebody's bored.

Micro guides aren't necessarily a bad choice for fly rods. But not all fly rods are tasked with the same thing. The same guides that work well on a fly rod used for small mountain trout may fail miserably when tasked for taking 100lb + tarpon on a rod used with shooting heads and loop to loop connections.

There is no one-size-fits-all in fishing rod guides...

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In my opinion 4mm is the smallest you need to go. The major consideration is what knots or other line connections may pass through the guide. I have had a few issues with older fishermen and myself about threading the rod with small guides. I have a friend that builds all bass rods with 5mm runners and they really cast great. On a fly rod my main concern is the backing to fly line knot going to pass through the guides with a fish on. Although this does not happen that often, when it does you want it to be a smooth transition.

Lynn, I had to check the calendar ..... I thought maybe it was April 1st.

Again it's build the lightest system you can get away with, I have no problem with 3 mm guides and the lines and knots I use them with, they may freeze up easier, but they also unfreeze faster so it's pretty much a wash. Freezing temps that effect guides don't happen in the Pacific Northwest near as much as they used to, if ice is a problem, I just use one of my old rods with the 6 mm runners. Problem solved.

Would it be fair to conclude that micro guides work best on rods built to catch micro fish? [grin]

it would not.
I've caught plenty of 8 lb.+ large mouth with them and a few 20-40 lb+ cat fish who though they needed a bass plug for dinner
and know a few builders who use them on their stripper n musky rods